University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

About: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus is a education organization based out in San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 1711 authors who have published 1496 publications receiving 27756 citations.

Transgender Women's Experiences Using a Home HIV-Testing Kit for Partner-Testing.

Abstract: HIV partner-testing (PT) may represent a unique and empowering HIV prevention strategy for groups that face structural and institutional barriers to HIV testing and care, including transgender women. We report on in-depth interviews (IDIs) with N = 10 transgender women who used HIV self-test kits for three months to screen potential sexual partners in a randomized controlled trial (iSUM; “I’ll Show You Mine”) that took place in New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Participants were assigned to intervention (supplied with 10 self-test kits immediately) or control groups (received 6 test kits after 3 months). We conducted IDIs with the first N = 10 transgender women to enroll in the intervention group after three months in the study (after participants used kits with partners) to understand their experiences. Themes discussed in IDIs included: partners’ reaction to HIV testing, participants’ reactions to partners’ test results or refusal to test, partners’ own reaction to their test results, and decision-making around test use. Data were independently analyzed by two coders. Overwhelmingly, participants’ experiences with PT was positive. Participants reported kits were convenient and acceptable to most partners. Transgender women felt that PT could pose additional risk for them; one woman experienced violence related to kit use. Furthermore, the availability of kits appeared to encourage participants and their partners to think about their HIV status and, in some cases, modify sexual behavior. Work suggests that HIV PT could be a viable risk-reduction strategy for transgender women.

Potential Usefulness of Clopidogrel Pharmacogenetics in Cerebral Endovascular Procedures and Carotid Artery Stenting.

Abstract: Background Previous reports have shown inadequate response to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel in 5-30% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), due mostly to clopidogrel resistance. This prevalence increases up to 66% in patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures. However, clinical significance of CYP2C19 genotypes in neurointerventional procedures or carotid artery stenting (CAS) is unknown. Objective The purpose of this review is to update our current knowledge and understanding of the pharmacogenetic basis for poor clopidogrel responsiveness in patients undergoing CAS and endovascular interventions as well as to explore usefulness of genotyping to reduce the rate of procedure-related thrombosis that results in ischemic complications. Method A literature search for pharmacogenetic studies in cerebral endovascular interventions and CAS was conducted on three databases using a list of the most relevant pharmacogenetic biomarkers. Results The review included 7 papers involving 3 genetic polymorphisms on CYP2C19 and 442 subjects. Patients harboring at least one loss-of-function CYP2C19 polymorphism (e.g., CYP2C19*2 and *3) are at an increased risk of thromboembolic complications such as stent thrombosis following neurointerventional procedures. Notably, patients who carry the gain-of-function CYP2C19*17 allele may have increased risk of ischemic events following endovascular treatment, independent of clopidogrel responsiveness. Conclusion Studies assessing the influence of CYP2C19 polymorphisms on high on-treatment platelet reactivity in CAS and cerebrovascular disease patients are still limited and need further validation in large multicenter studies. This review covers an important topic in the field of antiplatelet therapy for cerebral endovascular procedures and CAS.

The associations between major dietary patterns and risk of periodontitis.

Abstract: Aim To prospectively investigate the associations between major dietary patterns and incidence of periodontitis. Methods We included 34,940 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, free of periodontal disease and major illnesses at baseline. Detailed medical and dental history was collected through biennial mailed questionnaires, and dietary information was provided through quadrennial food frequency questionnaires. Using principal component analysis, we identified two major dietary patterns ("prudent" and "Western"). We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the associations between the two dietary patterns and self-reported incidence of periodontitis over a 24-year follow-up period. We investigated each pattern separately. Results There was no overall association between Western or prudent dietary patterns and periodontitis. Among obese, however, the Western dietary pattern was significantly associated with incident periodontitis. The hazard ratio for those in the highest quintile of Western diet versus those in the lowest (reference) was 1.83 (95% confidence interval: 1.21-2.76). Conclusions There was no overall association between Western or prudent dietary patterns and periodontitis; however, in subgroups analysis, the Western diet was significantly associated with higher periodontitis risk only among obese men, a finding that requires replication and biological explication.